…"If My people who bear My name, humble themselves and pray and seek My presence and turn from their wicked ways, I Myself will hear from Heaven and forgive their sins…" (2 Chron. 7:14) – "You will see that in prayer you will find more knowledge, more light, more strength, more grace and virtue than you could ever achieve by reading many books, or by great studies. Never consider as wasted the time you spend in prayer. You will discover that in prayer God communicates to you the light, strength and grace you need…" (Sr Lucia dos Santos)

ZEAL FOR SOULS IS SIMPLY LOVE IN ACTION

15Nov

MARY’S ARMY

Previous chapter: HE KNOWS THAT, FOR EVEN THE MOST SERIOUS EVILS, THERE IS A REMEDY, AND ONE ONLY WHICH GOD WILLS HIM TO EMPLOY

HOLINESS THROUGH MARY

The love of God is the heart of sanctity. Training in the love of God is, therefore, the principal task of the Child of Mary. Everything is designed to make the flame of Divine Love burn brighter: His every act is made to converge towards God, the supreme Object of his love.

In mind, will and heart, he is united with God and assimilated to Him. Thus seeking God, he relishes and lives the great Truths of his Faith, receiving eventually indomitable strength to overcome every obstacle and perform even heroic acts of virtue. The Holy Spirit comes into his soul with fire and love, making it one with Mary’s love and with Mary’s will to save the world.

Then, the love aflame there bursts forth from soul to soul pressing on daily towards the final objective, the setting of the whole world alight with the Divine Fire. The love of God expresses itself particularly in the exercise of the supernatural love of all men for God’s sake; in other words, in zeal for souls. His whole life is made one long exercise of zeal and, therefore, of love: for ZEAL is simply LOVE in action. Thus, he merits all the graces, privileges and power attached to the ceaseless practice of Divine Charity.

– Excerpts from “Holiness Through Mary” by Fr Francis Ripley, copied from a pamphlet by the Universal Rosary Association. For the Association’s details, please visit the link above (Part I).